For his alleged purchase of an expensive ring

Friday, May 30, 2014

Magistrates Council summons Oyarbide

In a heated meeting, the Disciplinary Committee of the Magistrates Council yesterday issued a summons to controversial Federal Judge Norberto Oyarbide to give explanations for the purchase of a sumptuous ring which he had reportedly boasted cost around US$250,000.

All councilors, including Kirchnerite lawmakers, yesterday agreed to call Oyarbide to be questioned before the Council, which is responsible for the selection and punishment of judges, to explain how he purchased the ring. A similar decision was taken some time ago in a case involving Judge Claudio Bonadío, a magistrate who repeatedly promoted cases against government officials and who is accused of not investigating cases during Carlos Menem’s era.

During a hearing that started at around 11am and ran for several hours, complaints against more then 50 judges were discussed by the members of the committee headed by Kirchnerite Senator Ada Iturrez de Cappellini.

Though it was not determined yesterday when Oyarbide will have to appear before the Council, such a hearing will be his chance to defend himself from a complaint filed time ago by Peronist leader Juan Ricardo Mussa.

Two years ago, Oyarbide filed a brief before the Council, explaining that the ring was not his and that he had rented it for US$7500 dollars in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The judge is facing a criminal complaint for allegedly receiving bribes used to buy the ring.

Propyme raid

Oyarbide was also in the eye of the storm yesterday for suspending a raid taking place at the credit co-operative Propyme, owned by Guillermo Greppi after receiving a phone call from the presidential Legal and Technical Secretary Carlos Zannini’s deputy, Carlos Liuzzi.

At noon, Radical councilors and Alejandro Fargosi — who is allegedly linked to Mauricio Macri’s PRO — requested to summon as witnesses Greppi, Liuzzi and Zannini but Kirchnerite councilor Carlos “Cuto” Moreno opposed. Former Magistrates Council President Mario Fera suggested summoning Liuzzi as he is directly involved in the case.

“We need to determine if there is flagrant corruption,” Fargosi responded. However, Fera said: “We are not analyzing our country’s history, just trying to examine a judge’s behaviour.”

Radical Senator Mario Cimadevilla also joined the controversy and accused Moreno, who is the councilor acting as a prosecutor in the raid case, of “trying to cover up Oyarbide.” Opposition politicians accuse Oyarbide of being a judge aligned with the Kirchnerite administration.